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Finland, Helsinki
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ISH centers wellbeing at the heart of its education, organizing around four catalysts: Wellbeing, Autonomy, Belonging, and Connection. Wellbeing focuses on community, social and emotional development, and balance. Autonomy develops decision‑making, challenge, and agency with high expectations and self‑actualization. Belonging ensures all kinds of people feel valued through collaboration and appreciation of diversity. Connection broadens experiences, deepens empathy, and encourages responsibility and purposeful actions. The school serves learners from 4 to 19 across the IB continuum with an individualized approach and a community made up of more than 40 nationalities.
ISH provides inclusive, individualized support for students with additional educational needs, including access and enrichment, and support for students acquiring English and those with social‑emotional and/or behavioral needs. The school emphasises an inclusive admission policy and is proactive about ensuring appropriate support; in some cases, additional admissions information may be requested to place students for success.
Early Years to Grade 8: the school accepts students with no prior English experience and provides targeted language support to help students integrate and succeed academically and socially. High School (Grades 9–12) applicants must demonstrate sufficient English proficiency, which is evaluated during the admissions process; additional English assessments may be required.
Wellbeing support is provided by a Wellbeing Lead, School Counselors, a City Counselor, and an Individualised Learning Lead as part of the safeguarding framework. The Counseling Team handles student counseling and related supports; pastoral care and career/personal counseling are provided as part of ISH services.
ISH has a Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. The safeguarding team includes the Wellbeing Lead, Head of School, Individualised Learning Lead, School Counselors, City Counselor, and School Psychologist, and meets monthly to review policy, log concerns, train staff, and consider cases. The Counseling Team handles reports of concern and works with external agencies as needed. ISH provides a Code of Conduct for staff and volunteers and requires safeguarding training; there is a confidential whistleblowing channel for reporting malpractice or abuse.
International School of Helsinki (ISH) offers the IB continuum for students aged 4 to 18, with English as the language of instruction and a broad language program that includes Spanish, French and Finnish as Foreign Languages, plus Finnish Mother Tongue and English as an Additional Language support where needed. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) runs from early years through Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) covers Grades 6-10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) spans Grades 11-12. ISH became Finland's first fully IB-accredited school in 2005, and it has maintained IB, CIS, and NEASC accreditation through subsequent re-authorisations. Beyond academics, the school offers an extensive after-school activities and athletics program (ASA) for K-12, as well as cultural, language and social clubs. The Parents' Teacher Organization supports the community, and volunteers help events. ISH emphasizes an international community, cross-cultural workshops, and services to help families settle in. A welcoming, thriving environment.
